Here is our general sticky that offers hometesting advice:
Hometesting Links and Tips, and this is a recent discussion on the forum that offers some good information about testing
Like so many before me, I find it impossible to draw blood to test for glucose.
As one poster mentions, it can take some time for the capillary bed on the edge of the ear to develop, so initially getting the ear to bleed can take some time. I'm not sure if you are using something to warm his ear (rice-filled baby socks that can be gently warmed in the microwave), but that often helps. You'll also see in these discussions the size lancet that's best to use at the beginning when Blue's ear is learning to bleed.
Thank you, it's not often that it happens, most of the times I do it on the first try. But every now and then I need a few tries. I don't own a microwave, and I test a bit spontaneous, he has to be sitting and be relaxed otherwise he will fight me, so I can't prepare too well beforehand. But I do try to warm his ear by hand, rubbing it. I am now also adding some antibiotic ointment which is also quite fat, so the drop forms a lot better. I tried free hand as well and the first two times were a great success, but then he didn't like tries 3 and 4 so I stopped doing it. I only have 30G size lancets for my lancing device, I am still looking for thicker. Free hand one was 28G, but they don't fit.
Here are the dosing methods most people on the forum follow:
Sticky - Dosing Methods: Start Low, Go Slow (SLGS) & Tight Regulation (TR). You are testing enough to follow TR, which is a dosing method that has some scientific research behind it showing that it gets cats into remission (note: Jude actually went into remission on SLGS). Both dosing methods offer guidance about when to take increases and decreases. You can also follow custom dosing from your vet if you choose. But, TR and SLGS are both good dosing methods.
I need to start thinking which one to apply, and I should see my vet next week. For starters I just wanted to see him drop below 400+ all day, but yes, it is time to work on regulation. I'm a little intimidated by TR, though I do feel it would be a better fit. I also can not find syringes with .5 markings so I'm not sure how I would be doing .25IU dose adjustments without them. Even the 1.5IU I'm dosing now I never know if it is too much or too little.
Finally, you might consider giving Blue a probiotic to help with the diarrhea. One that many on the forum (myself included) use is S. Boulardii + MOS.
I did see Jarrow Boulardii mentioned here before, I do not have that at hand and it would take a few days to arrive, but I did start him already on a different probiotic that he had before. He had two other episodes last night so he's maybe a little dehydrated but he's eating good and I switched back to the other canned food he had no issue with.
One thing I'm not sure of is if I should be storing the food it in the fridge once I open the can or if left outside at room temperature is fine. He has approximately one and a half cans a day now (200g + 100g) split in 50g portions.
I'm so glad that Blue was able to experience some consistent lower numbers yesterday! The numbers below 200 are healing numbers for the pancreas, so it's good he was able to spend some time in the blues. He'll likely bounce a bit since he's not used to lower numbers, but he'll eventually become accustomed to them.
Thank you, so am I, he was back to his old self. He did bounce a bit, but it doesn't look that bad so far and with the spot checks I did looks like his highest was ~270.
Thank you also for all the support and good advice.
